Weather Forecast

Imperial Crush evens record with Sunday win over Kimball

By Jan SchultzThe Imperial Republican Imperial Crush’s second win in a row, a 17-1 thrashing of Kimball Sunday, evened the team’s season record at 2-2. The first three innings were scoreless, but Imperial took an early 1-0 lead in the fourth after Darrin Schultz doubled, then crossed home on a double from Scott Way. Although Kimball’s first two batters singled in their half of the fourth, they failed to get any runs across that inning. Imperial batted around twice in the fifth inning, scoring 12 runs, putting the game out of reach for Kimball. The visitors scored their only run of the game in the top of the sixth when their lead-off batter, E. Soto, homered. Imperial shortstop Lance Milner matched Sidney’s homer in Imperial’s half of the sixth with a three-run homer over the left field fence after Jeremy Mathews walked and Calvin Weiss doubled. Imperial scored a fourth run in the sixth, on a fielder’s choice. With the 17-1 lead, the game was called early after Kimball failed to score in their half of the seventh. Hometown fans saw Crush tally 12 hits in Sunday afternoon’s warm contest at Campbell Park. Leading the hitters were Milner, homer and single; Schultz, double and single; Way, double and single; and Weiss, double and single. All but one Imperial batter had at least one hit in the game. Others recording hits were Jess Vapenik, Eric McDaniel, Sean Munger and Jerel Fortkamp. Imperial, which has been hampered by errors in previous games, committed just two in Sunday’s contest. Schultz went all seven innings, claiming the win for Imperial from the mound, striking out nine and walking only one. Kimball recorded eight hits. Kimball used three pitchers in the contest, who combined for five K’s and six walks. No game this weekend Crush has an off weekend this Sunday, with no game on the schedule, but the following five weekends will see the team in action. Their next contest will be Sunday, July 5, when Crush will host Haxtun, Colo., at Campbell Park for a 5 p.m. game.